Eosinophilic leukaemia with a t(2;5) (p23;q35) translocation

Although the diagnosis of rare eosinophilic leukaemia is possible based on cytogenetic abnormalities, the chromosomal aberrations reported are diverse. We found a t(2;5) (p23;q35) translocation on bone marrow cells of a patient with chronic eosinophilia who suffered from multiple pustular folliculitis but lacked the clinical symptoms commonly observed in hypereosinophilic syndrome. No morphological abnormalities in an eosinophilic series were apparent and other haemopoietic cells were well preserved. A therapeutic trial with interferon-alpha failed after a 2-month period, and the patient is currently undergoing a combination therapy with interferon and intermittent administrations of hydroxyurea.